THE FINANCIER
using the treasury, only in a more subtle way. Stener
had never interested him as an individual. He was merely
an opportunity to him. He was thinking now, though,
of his own attitude in regard to the use of this
money. No harm could come to him, Cowperwood, if
Stener's ventures were successful; and there was no
reason why they should not be. Even if they were not,
he would be merely acting as an agent. In addition,
he saw how in the manipulation of this money for Stener
he could probably eventually control certain lines for him-
self.
There was one line being laid out to within a few blocks
of his new home—the Seventeenth and Nineteenth Street
line it was called—which interested him greatly. He
rode on it occasionally when he was delayed or did not
wish to trouble about a vehicle. It ran through two
thriving streets of red-brick houses, and was destined to
have a great future once the city grew large enough.
As yet it was really not long enough. If he could get
that, for instance, and combine it with Butler's lines,
once they were secured—or Mollenhauer's or Simpson's,
the legislature could be induced to give them additional
franchises. He even dreamed of a combination between
Butler, Mollenhauer, Simpson, and himself. Between
them, politically, they could get anything. But Butler
was not a philanthropist. He would have to be approached
with a very sizable bird in hand. The combination
must be obviously advisable. Besides, Frank was deal-
ing for Butler in street-railway stocks as it was, and if
this particular line were such a good thing Butler might
wonder why it had not been brought to him in the first
place, seeing that he was in the field to buy. It would
be better, Frank thought, to wait until he actually had
it as his own, in which case it would be a different matter.
Then he could talk as a capitalist. He began to dream of
a city-wide street-railway system controlled by a few
men, or preferably him alone.
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